SPIRITUALITY AND MISSION OF THE PAULINE FAMILY

Spirituality

The self-revelation of Jesus, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” was an object of study at the beginning of the 20th century. Pope Leo XIII, through his Encyclical Tametsi Futura, taught that Christ is the “salvation of both individuals and of the society”, and then proposed the three dimensions of Way, Truth and Life as “three principles necessary for salvation”. Alberione was touched by the programme of life presented by the Pope through these three principles; the Christology contained in this programme of life was pleasing to Fr. Alberione, and it instilled in him a special interest for Jesus, Way, Truth and Life. The interest that Fr. Alberione had in Jesus Way, Truth, Life remained dormant in his mind till 1923. Meanwhile Fr. Alberione began to develop the concept “Master” due to his intimate experience with Jesus especially during the retreats that he made. From 1924 onwards, the structure of “Jesus Master, Way, Truth, Life” became common in the Pauline Family. Unifying Master and the three principles of Way, Truth, Life, Fr. Alberione defined Pauline spirituality as: “to live the Gospel integrally, to live in the Divin Master the Way, Truth and Life, and to live Him as he is understood by Paul” (UPS III, 187). Another definition offered is: “To live integrally the Gospel of Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life as he is interpreted by Paul, under the gaze of Mary Queen of Apostle” (UPS I, 51; AD 93).

According to Fr. Alberione, the spirituality of “Jesus Master, Way, Truth, Life” presents an integral view of everything. In this Pauline Method of Jesus Master Way, Truth, Life, there is completeness: It presents the complete Jesus, complete religion, complete human person, complete redemption, complete formation, complete apostolate, etc. (cf. AD 159). Pauline spirituality presents Jesus as truth to believe, Jesus as way to follow and Jesus life to share in. Such devotion, according to Fr. James Alberione, leads the whole person—mind, will, heart—to God.

There is also a special devotion to Mary Queen of Apostles and St Paul in the Pauline Family. Mary is Queen of Apostles because she has formed and sustained the Apostles and obtained for them the Holy Spirit; she did and continues to do all that the apostles did; she carried out all the apostolates: interior life, prayer, good example, suffering, etc. St Paul, according to Fr. Alberione, is the faithful interpreter of Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life. It is from St Paul that the Pauline Family takes the spirit. Our devotion to St Paul has three specific scopes: to know him, to imitate him and to pray through his intercession.

Mission

When Fr. Alberione founded the Society of St Paul, the Church had already Institutes that used press as one of the means of evangelization. But the originality of Fr. Alberione was the exclusive use of the means of communication for evangelization. What urged Fr. Alberione to adopt the means of communication was the awareness that the traditional means of preaching the Gospel was insufficient to respond to the needs of the Church.

To diffuse the message of the Gospel through the means of the good press was the objective of Fr. Alberione at the beginning of his foundation. The progress of time saw the transition from Apostolate of the Press to Publishing Apostolate, and then to the apostolate using all the latest and fastest means of communication. This progress underlines the conviction of the Founder to communicate to the people to today with the means of today. He did not blame the media for corrupting people, but considered it a means at the service of the Church to redeem people. Fr Alberione realized that the pulpit alone is not sufficient, but we need to use the technology. He said, “Preaching by the word of mouth somehow corresponds to tradition; preaching in print somehow corresponds to Holy Spiriture (UCAS 1934, p.3).

Thoughts

19/12/2018
Those who do not love young people cannot find the means and they neither know how to attract them. Only those who love often think of others, and thinking of others is often the secret of success (ATP 282).

We celebrate the feast of our Founder, Blessed James Alberione. Along with my Team and all in the Provincialate, I join you spiritually to celebrate the event meaningfully. I pray that God our loving Father may shower his choicest blessings on all of us and on all the apostolic activities of our Province through the intercession of our beloved Founder.

Our Province has just celebrated the Chapter on the theme “Do everything for the Gospel”. Alberione employed all his energies to the spread of the Good News in all its forms with all means that were at his disposal. Though physically weak he was moved by the Spirit of God to leap in to the unknown for the sake of the Gospel. May the vision of our heavenly Founder inspire us to greater commitment in our mission. May his determination to do something noble to the men and women of his times challenge us to personal renewal and may his indomitable spirit inspire us to be and to do everything for the Gospel.

Have a wonderful and grace-filled celebration of the feast. Stay blessed always.

Kindly keep our Brothers in Nigeria in your special prayers. May the Good Shepherd be close to them during these days of pain, sorrow and loss.